One Hundred Twenty-Five
“Puck, do you want to wear a tie to church today?”
The six year-old in cowboy boots, jeans, powder blue collared shirt, and sea urchin hair pondered this idea…
“Well, it would look handsome at the fair… sure!”
Yes, we were going to the Valley of Flowers festival that afternoon, the old-time small-town fair affair back in Mom’s and Dad’s former stomping grounds. After a stop by Mom’s and Dad’s…
“Why is there no milk in this house?!” Rose demanded.
“Want to hear the terrible joke I told the FAA guy yesterday to break the ice and he didn’t laugh at all?” Carrie asked. “So he asked how my lessons were going and I said, ‘Well, I’ve been stalled out for awhile… Pardon the pun.’”
“Oh no, you used a pardon the pun joke?” Rose laughed.
Somehow we then started talking about the tooth that was once growing out of Francis’ nose…
“Can you imagine him looking like that. He goes through a drive-through – I’ll take a burger for me! And one for my tooth!’”
That’s how we got talking about it – Linnea, who had been at church with us, was resting on the floor with a pack of ice on her jaw. Teeth-pulling took its toll. Eleda, now road-eligible, had driven over with a smoothie the same day the pearlies came out.
Rose was slamming out work stories…
“You know what, Rose,” said Carrie, “it sounds like you’ve had a difficult week.”
“No! Sit on Linnea. She’s really squishy!”
So by that time, Dad and Francis had returned from visiting a nearby Baptist church, and the caravan was ready to go. With donuts and milk.
“Milk!” Rose declared with triumph.
Mom and Grandma were already waiting for us outside Grandma’s place with Joe and Jaya. Mom had spent all weekend with Grandma. Joe and Jaya had visited The Refuge. By the tree that was no longer there, had come down in the storm. Francis and I counted about twelve rings.
The parade actually worked out pretty well. It wasn’t even crowded because everyone thought it was going to rain. All the marching bands and tootsie rolls made it down St. Francois just before the rain started up again with a little more impact. And we all got there at one time or another before start time, except Linus. Linnea collected all the shiny beads. Carrie and Rose fought for the rare Reeses cups. Francis made inappropriate comments; sometimes he takes after Rose.
Grilled ballparks, chips, soda, back at Uncle Mo’s and Aunt Petunia’s. Grandma had brought brownies and donut holes. The game was on. Puck spread out his candy stash on the table for everyone to make their selections. I took a small pack of strawberry lemonade Nerds.
“So, uh, Lucia!” Joe craned his neck around the corner
“Yeah!”
“I hear you’re giving tours of your room today?”
“Ug! I’m going to punch you all in the face!”
“So could I have that tour?”
She probably would have thrown something at him.
We came home while it was still light. I had to cut The Bear’s hair… And beard… And mustache… That was a new experience. Somehow it worked out with no carnage involved. And Puck had a date with another Garfield book and The Happy Hollisters. Rosy cheeks, sleepy eyes. Catching a bag’s worth of candy in 45 minutes is no easy accomplishment.
